Short Game · Lesson
The Clock Method for Wedge Distances
Part of our short game programs for distance control. Build a program with it
Want reliable wedges inside 100 yards? Change your backswing length and keep your tempo the same. Picture yourself as a clock, with your head at 12. Hit ten balls with each wedge, swinging back to 7:30. Then to 9:00. Then to 10:30. Keep the same smooth tempo for all three. Write down the average carry for each. Now you have a chart you can trust.
Step by step
- Picture a clock with your head at 12.
- Hit ten with each wedge to 7:30.
- Repeat at 9:00 and 10:30.
- Keep the same tempo throughout.
- Write your averages on a card.
Why it works
Distance with a wedge comes from clubhead speed, and speed grows with the length of the swing when tempo stays fixed. A longer backswing gives the club more distance to build speed, so the ball carries farther without you hitting harder. Using set backswing lengths removes guesswork, and averaging ten balls shows you the carry you can expect each time.
Common mistakes
- You speed up the downswing on the longer swings.Count the same rhythm for every swing so only the length of the backswing changes.
- You judge the carry from a single good or bad shot.Hit all ten balls and record the average, ignoring the best and worst in your mind.
- Your backswing stops at a different point each time.Pick a visual marker for each clock position, such as where your lead arm points, and stop there on every swing.
How you'll know it's working
- Your ten balls for each position land in a tight group, not scattered over a wide range.
- Each longer swing carries clearly farther than the one before it, with no overlap between positions.
- You make clean contact with a shallow divot after the ball, and the swing feels smooth at all three lengths.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use one wedge and one clock position first, then add the others once the carry is steady.
Harder: Hit to a target at a set distance without knowing the number ahead of time, then pick the wedge and clock position that fit it and check where the ball lands.
Common questions
How far should I hit each wedge with a 9:00 swing?
There is no standard number, because it depends on your speed, loft and contact. Hit ten balls and use your own average carry.
Should I count carry or total distance for wedge shots?
Use carry, because roll changes with the lie, the green and the spin. Carry is the number you can control and compare between swings.
